OUTREACH is mission beyond our walls and extends our charity into the community, an area where we have funded an outreach worker for over 10 years, following an earlier windfall. Like outreach workers Alison Smith and Louise Everett before him, we have paid Don Philips for his services as social enterprise worker in an attempt to draw local healthcare providers into the church halls. Then came Covid, which shifted his efforts.
Don has had more success using the global Internet to take this Reformed Church into the local community of Cheadle Hulme, wider into Stockport and further, making or using Churches Together or community websites and FaceBook pages. 1000’s of people know about us now according to Google.
He has found many like-minded churches, plus a Mayor and council newly awakened to the vastness of voluntary work carried out by them, especially over Covid. A common phase is “Find out what God’s doing and help Him.” Don intends to build a database, a computer display, to gather together information on the work done across the area’s faith groups which can be searched like a census. This will co-ordinate churches, avoid duplication, and enable funding to be directed efficiently in support of the disadvantaged in the community. Don will do this voluntarily, but we will provide the support to fund the software, the computer program, essential to the task.
Beyond that, we host a number of other initiatives…
WARM HUBS – simply come along and enjoy a drink and/or a newspaper in a warm room.
Pre-school Group – run by Marple Childcare
Toddlers – For mums to chat whilst youngsters play safely, Currently Furloughed….
Soup, Sweet n Meet – Once a month, a simple (except Christmas) lunch for members and their friends or neighbours.
Film Matinee – Every month we screen a thought provoking DVD for friends and neighbours.
Breakfast Before – before the Sunday service, once a month.
Christmas & Easter Cards – With service details.
Remembrance – Service of Remembrance followed by mini-exhibition.
Nativity Service – December Sunday service to celebrate Christ’s arrival; Marple Childcare have their own service.
High -functioning Autism Group – Currently suspended, but do enquire.
==========================Bernie Stevens
Highlights from the past…
Royal Wedding Street Party – April 2011
Party in the church car park, for over 100 people 50/50 church/neighbours
Sent a wedding cake and card.
Games & activities
Stepping Stones – monthly 2011 ~ 2013
Messy church – 2nd Friday of each month in term time
Remembrance Festival – 11/11/2011 ~ 11/11/2018
Displays and act of Remembrance with church members preparing displays and talking to over 100 local school children.
Displays of work on WW2 from local school children
Schools involved were: Lane End Primary School, Greenbank School, Hulme Hall School, Ramilies School and Bradshaw Hall Primary School
Most years local schools have taken part or sent work.
Toddlers – September 2011 ~ date
Started off small, twice a month until February 2012, when we increased to weekly.
Grew rapidly, we have had over 280 families at Toddlers, some coming regularly, others less often, but up to 47 children over the summer.
Meets every Friday from 10-11.30am, except for 2 weeks in August and if we have services in church e.g. Good Friday or Remembrance
Now being run by a team from church
Jubilee Party – June 2012
Joined by 30-40 local residents for Afternoon Tea in the church hall, followed by dancing and games (borrowed from Cheadle Scouts)
1952 Film night, with Pathe News, cartoon and “The Importance of Being Earnest”
Christmas Eve Afternoon Service – 4pm
Family service, in 2011 this took the form of a children’s party, with games etc, and 2012 included the Nativity.
Supported by Bramhall URC music group
Well attended both years, by church members, children from Stepping Stones and local residents
Holiday Clubs – 2011 & 2012
Small, Friday morning groups – first year looking at bible characters, and 2012 based around the Olympics. Children who came enjoyed themselves, but not many came.
144th Birthday Open Day – June 2013
Open day with stalls and games in the church car park, afternoon tea in the church and dancing in the hall.
Invited Fiona Watson and Dorothy Blake to bring their dancing groups, so had over 100 children taking part, with ballroom, tap, ballet and maypole dancing
Archive displays in the church
Over 250 people over the afternoon – we raised over £500 for the Pre-school
=============================Alison Smith